Like father, like son

I have had the pleasure of working with Proprietor and Editor-in-Chief Jang media group, perhaps longest editor who got trained as a fearless journalist under the stewardship of Mir Khalil-ur- Rahman. And indeed only a man of his grit and commitment to free journalism could sustain editors like me under General Ziaul Haq who just short of murdering inflicted all sorts of harm to any one who opposed his martial law and oppressive media policy in which truth even in public and national interest was blasphemous. Mir sahib had perfected the art of saying things between the lines.

Mir Javed was his senior son who had many of Mir Khalil Sahib’s pristine qualities. Though a part of a capitalist system listed as a top capitalist, Mir Javed was not a Banya. He believed in Adal-o-Insaaf (justice and equality) and treated his employees on merit and justice—unlike the Administrative staff who would oppose even fixation of salaries according to the Wage Award. If I ever took the case of my colleagues to him for a fair deal, he would open the book of wages prescribed by the Wage Board of the government, himself check the Board’s specified salary structure and do justice by not only substantially increasing the salaries but also paying for the months an employee was denied his Wage Board salaries.

Javed’s first training in journalism was with me in Daily News. He was very obedient as a trainee journalist, never tried to boss around. And if need be, would go out of the way to help needy staff members. Like father, like son, he was always available to take care of the poor. By nature, he was a religious person and devotedly sent any member of the staff for Hajj or Umarah.

It is a wise saying that to judge a man’s character, one must travel with him. While I had the pleasure of travelling a lot with Mir Khalil Sahib, on many occasions Mir Sahib sent me along with Mir Javed. As a co-traveller and me senior to him, he would go out of the way to take care of me. Both father and son opted for me to go on Commonwealth Press Union scholarship when the board of directors had selected him for it.

I have also had the pleasure of working with Mir Shakil-ur- Rahman and their sister Gulafshan. While Shakil has been a great innovator and believes doing things that were daring and adventurous, Gulafshan alias Mini was a born journalist.

I just heard the shocking news of Javed Rahman’s death. May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannatul Firdaus (Ameen). My heartfelt condolences to his family, specially his mother and wife Ghazala, who is very devoted.

- Author is the longest serving editor of Daily News and a veteran journalist